Chapter 12: Please, Rayleigh, Hunt Some Sea Kings

"Mm! I understand! I will do what I can!"

Uchiha nodded heavily after hearing this. "Thank you, Rayleigh-san!"

"Ha ha! No need for thanks," Rayleigh said with a loud laugh. "I should be the one thanking you! Not only did you save the children of the Kuja Pirates, but you also brought me this important piece of news."

"You're right!"

At this, Shakuyaku turned to Kaigen and Uchiha Zhi'an. "Just the information about Roger is enough to make up for this reward!"

"In my opinion, this isn't enough to compensate for the help we've given to Hancock and the others."

"Should we ask for something more? Otherwise, I will feel uneasy."

It was clear that the news about Ace was of significant importance. Given this news, a bit of training experience didn't seem like much. These people were helpful enough, even willing to teach what they knew.

Uchiha Kaigen shook his head. "No need! We don't have anything else we need right now! This is already enough."

"One should not be too greedy!"

"However, if we do need something later, I'll come ask Aunt Shakuyaku, alright?"

Shakuyaku smiled. "Heh heh heh! Fine! If you need any information, don't hesitate to ask me! I have reliable sources."

Kaigen was likely just being polite, as he and the others had already grasped a more powerful information network. Still, it seemed like an attempt to avoid making things awkward.

After a hearty lunch, Shakuyaku and the team returned, having thought of something else:

"Some of the crew members have sustained serious injuries, and with the supplies being prepared, we won't be able to depart until five more days. Would that be alright with you?"

"No problem!"

Kaigen had no objections. He was focused on his mother's rapidly improving health, so he wasn't in a rush. Plus, with Rayleigh and the others providing higher-quality Sea King meat, her recovery would be even faster, so there was no reason to refuse.

"Rayleigh-san, I was wondering if you could help me collect some Sea King meat to store. It would be too expensive to buy it directly!"

"Oh?" Rayleigh raised an eyebrow, surprised. "That's simple enough. With my strength, hunting Sea Kings is no trouble at all. But how do you plan to store it? This stuff doesn't last long without proper preservation."

"Don't worry, I have a special storage method!" Kaigen said with a mysterious smile. He planned to use his spatial space to collect the meat, keeping his abilities hidden for now.

With the strange powers of Devil Fruits in this world, even if Rayleigh suspected it, he likely wouldn't be able to figure out the truth.

"Ha ha! Fine! Since I have some free time, let's do it now!" Rayleigh replied casually.

"Hey hey! Great!" Kaigen nodded happily.

"I'll handle the storage! Just leave it to me!"

At this, Uchiha Zhi'an sighed in relief, clearly not wanting Kaigen to go hunting with Rayleigh.

Rayleigh dove into the sea, preparing to hunt Sea Kings, likely not paying attention to them.

"Sorry for the trouble, Rayleigh-san!"

Uchiha Zhi'an nodded slightly to Rayleigh.

"Ha ha! No problem! Let's go! The Kuja Island ship will take us out to sea!"

With that, Rayleigh led Kaigen's mother aboard the ship from Kuja Island. After greeting the leader, Naji, they quickly set sail.

Not long after, the ship stopped for a moment.

Then, Rayleigh jumped directly into the sea.

"Boom!!! Boom!!!"

Soon, a series of explosions and vibrations came from beneath the sea, causing the water to surge violently.

"Glub... glub... splash!!"

In no time, a giant sea serpent-like Sea King, over a hundred meters long and about five meters in diameter, floated unconscious to the surface.

Rayleigh poked its head, then turned to ask Kaigen on the ship, "Kaigen-nii, how's this? Is this sea serpent enough? Do you need more?"

"Yes, it's enough! But if you can, get about ten more just like this! Thanks for the help, Rayleigh-san!"

With that, Kaigen turned to his mother, Uchiha Zhi'an.

Uchiha Zhi'an smiled and shook her head. She directly grabbed Kaigen by the collar and leaped, landing steadily on the sea.

"Oh?"

Rayleigh and the others aboard the ship were surprised by this sight. "She can just stand on the water?"

"Is this some kind of special ability? Truly mysterious!"

Rayleigh noticed the chakra in Uchiha Zhi'an's feet. Though it was strange, he didn't ask further. Instead, he casually said, "I'll go hunt ten more, but it might not be the same kind of Sea Serpent!"

"No problem!"

Kaigen nodded. "These are definitely Sea Kings! Thanks again, Rayleigh-san! When we get back, I'll treat you to a drink!"

He remembered that the wine cellar had plenty of fine wine, and Rayleigh was sure to appreciate it.

He was confident that his mother wouldn't mind.

A little wine in exchange for this high-quality Sea King meat was well worth it!

"Ha ha! You're welcome! I'll definitely take you up on that!"

Rayleigh gave him a knowing smile.

At this point, Kaigen, with his mother still holding him by the collar, approached the Sea King floating on the water.

He directly extended his hand, murmured a few words, and then used his spatial space to absorb the Sea King into it.

He even used his spatial authority to immediately kill the creature, ensuring it wouldn't wake up and cause trouble.

He then made a quick gesture, dividing the Sea King into neatly categorized meat blocks and storing them in a restricted space within his storage area.

"This..."

Everyone on the ship, including Rayleigh and Hancock, were stunned when the Sea King disappeared from the surface after Kaigen touched it. Their eyes widened in surprise.

"That's... incredible! Ha ha!"

Rayleigh gave Kaigen a deep look. "If you have such a powerful storage ability, then I'll leave it to you. I'll go continue hunting."

With that, Rayleigh dove back into the water.

Uchiha Zhi'an led Kaigen back onto the ship to avoid any potential danger from the Sea Kings appearing.

"Kaigen! Kaigen, what was that just now? Is it some kind of spatial Devil Fruit ability?"

Hancock, curious, ran over to ask.

"Not quite, but close!"

Kaigen smiled and nodded.

"Impressive! So it's some sort of Devil Fruit power!"

Hancock exclaimed in surprise.

At this moment, Hancock was not the future, prideful Empress of Amazon Lily who had consumed the Mero Mero no Mi, but a much more lively and approachable version of herself.